Improvement in the manufacture and treatment of alcoholic spirits



ataa sale that affine 'ORAZIO, LUGO, or BALT MO E,MARY AND,-

Letters Patent No. 112,725 dated March 14', 1871. i,

.lMPROVEMENT IN THE-MANUFACTURE AND TREATMENT'OF ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

fgrain spirit, &c.;) and Second, in treating with certain chemical reagents any of the above-mentioned alcoholic liquids or spirits during the process of distillation at distilleries or rectifying establishments; and I, therefore, do hereby declare that the following is a correct specification thereof.

In order to enable those skilled in the science andart to apply my invention, 1 will proceed to describe one of the methods by which the desired result is obtained.

Spirituous or alcoholic liquids are generally obtained by a process called viuous fermentation, by the de-f composition which saccharine substances undergo, in contact with ferment and water, at certain temperature's.

During the so-called vinous fermentation other accidental fermentations and oxidations take place, giving rise to various kinds of alcohols, (fusil oils,) aldehydes, and acids; and when thefermented must or beer is submitted to distillation a considerable part of those accidental products are distilled and carried over with the alcohol proper.

The distillate thus obtained is called raw spirit, and it consists chiefly of alcohol and water, with variable traces of impurities, as aldehydes, acids, fusil oil, and ethers. The nature and quantity of these impurities is depcndent-- ,First, upon the quality of the saccharine substances used;

Second, upon the manner in which the vinous fermentation is conducted; and

Third, upon the construction of the distilling apparatus,

Under these and other conflicting circumstances will be perceived the practical impossibility of ob-. taining clean spirits by simple fractional distillation.

I have obtained very satisfactory results in treating raw spirits with reducing chemical reagents, intended to act especially on the aldehydes,ethers, and fusil oils, (amylic, propylic, butylic alcohols, 85g.)

The oxidizing agents which I use are liypochlorous acid, (010,) sulphu'rous acid, (S0,) each in the form of a suitable salt, as hypochlorite {M0,Gl0) and as sulphite or bisulphite, (MO,SO,, or MO,2S.O,,)-t he hypochlorites and sulpbites of lime or of soda being preferred.

In order to illustrate how the practical operation is conducted, we will suppose that one thousand gallons of a spirituous liquid of specific gravity 0.9025 is to be treated. The spirit being in a suitable tank or vessel, about two gallons of a clear solution, for instance, of hypoohlorite of .lime, of about the specific gravity of 1.040, is added to the spirit, and the whole agitated for a few moments. Then,after an hours time, about five gallons of a solution, for instance, of

bisulphite of lime, of specific gravity 1.025, is added, andthewhole again agitated. It will' be observed that, after a few moments, a white flocculent precipi tate is formed and the spirit has become odorless. If

the spirit should-give an acid reaction, a little milk of lime may be added. v .The precipitate may be filtered oii or the clear spirit decanted; or it may be distilled, when a very superior and clean spirit will be obtained.

It is impossible'to give the precise proportions of the hypochlorites or sulphites to be used, for the reasons already stated, that the quantity and nature of the impurities (fusil oil, 850.) differ according to the quality of sugar used and the manner in which the spirit is manufactured..-

Good results may be obtained, also, by treating th beer or .must or wine before submitting the same to distillation, thus saving one distillation; but in this case, the chemicalsused mustbeincreascd in strength and quantity, especially the sulphitesor bisulphites.

This process of treating alcoholic spirits can also be used at'the distilleries, during the process of distillation, by introducing the above-cited chemicals in l a tank or ves s'el-where the spirit is run into, con-, nected with the steam, must, or beer-still, a doubler and the cistern-room;

. I do not limit myself to the specific gravity of the alcoholic liquid given above, nor simply to the solutions of hypochlorite of lime and of bisulphite of lime;

.' but any of the suitable compounds of hypochlorous acid and of sulphurous acid, represented by the form ula (MO,GlO) and of (MO,SO, and MO,2SO,) as un-' derstood by chemists, may be-used instead.

.Any person skilled in the science will readily determine the required amount of the above-mentioned chemicals necessary ,to treat any given amount of spirituous liquids obtained from any known saccharine matter.

Having described my invention,

What I cl im, and desire to secureby Letters Pat- I cut of the nited States, is-' 1. The process herein described, of treating alcoholic spirits or solutionslcontaiuing alcohol, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set 3. The treatment of spirituous liquids with the hereforth, the same consisting in the purification and deiii-mentioned chemical agents during the process of odorization of high-wines, low-wines, whiskies, I'llIllS,' distillation, substantially as herein described, and for brandies, wine, must, and fermented beer,'by the use the purpose set forth.

of the chemical agents herein mentioned. ORAZIO LUGO.

2. The successive treatment of alcoholic spirits, Witnesses: first, by a compound of chlorine, and then by a com- A. L. HAYES,

pound of sulphur, as set forth. F. W. BITTER, JR. 

